DADELDHURA: The office of the Peace Committee here in Dadeldhura is virtually dysfunctional for five months due to the padlocking by its former member secretary Bandana Rajbhandari. Rajbhandari padlocked the office in June accusing authorities of not extending her job contract and also not providing her salary. She has also put up a notice at the office giving reasons for her protest. Man Singh Mal, coordinator of the committee, said, "She did not inform the committee about her action in advance." He said Rajbhandari had taken apart an office computer with the intention of taking it for her personal use before her protest but added it could not be confirmed since the office was still locked. Ministry of Peace established the local Peace Committee last year mandating it to identify, select, recommend and rehabilitate the victims of the 10-year long insurgency. Due to the padlock, office assistant of the committee has now been working at the District Administration Office. CDO Rajendra Prasad Ghimire said the committee member's service had been terminated, expressing ignorance about the computer and her protest.